The Newcastle Jets finally ’Äòtook off’Äô with their first A-League win defeating Sydney FC 2-1. Ante Milicic and Richard Johnson gave the Newcastle Jets a 2-0 half time lead before substitute Dwight Yorke gave the Sydney side hope with a second half goal in a game that included two red cards and six yellow cards.
It began as early as the 5th min for the Jets with Milicic playing a one-two with Ned Zelic then with Nick Carle, Milicic then cleverly chipped Clint Bolton from close range.
In the 18th min a Carle pass found Milicic whose clever cross found Richard Johnson on the edge of the penalty area his low hard shot along the ground beat Bolton for 2-0.
Both the Newcastle goals came the Sydney FC right hand side and they continued to go forward with Matt Thompson going for a 30 meter run ending in a low shot going just past the far post up right.
In the 31 min Sydney almost pulled one back a Steve Corcia corner was flicked on to Alvin Ceccoli who shot was blocked by Jade North.
The Jets continued with their strong high tempo pressing game that had Sydney continually going backwards or losing possession. In the 40th min a Labinot Haliti long range shot was going under the cross bar until Bolton intervened.
Pierre Littbarski made two late first half substitutions replacing Matt Bingley with Andrew Packer to fix the right hand side defensive problems and had former Newcastle star Robbie Middleby replaced by Dwight Yorke.
The first half finished with a rasping Carle free kick which was well saved by Bolton.
The second half saw Sydney FC keep possession for long periods of play but they were unable to prize open a well organized Jets defence in which Jade North was having a blinder.
In the 47th min a Packer cross saw a Yorke header go just wide of the near post, two minutes later Yorke was clear on goal but his shot was straight at Liam Reddy.
The 54th min saw a Carle through ball for Matt Thompson clear on goal but in his one on one with the goal keeper he just failed to get a final telling shot.
Sydney FC continued to have long periods of possession and this was aided by Reddy’Äôs goal kicks, four of which went directly out of play and many others which went up field to a forward who was marked and easily disposed by three defenders. In the 57th min Sasho Petrovski long range shot from outside the area went along the ground for an easy save, in the 62nd min Zdrillic headed on for Corcia to shot high over the bar and five minutes late a North defensive header stopped Zdrillic.
In the 70th min saw an ugly Corcia foul on Mark Bridge for which he received a Red Card ’Äì Pierre Littbarski admitted at the post match press conference "it deserved a red".
The challenge brought players from both teams into a scuffle and Mateo Corbo was Red Carded for his part. Richard Money comment was ’Äò I will deal with Corbo’Äô ’ÄòHe was excellent despite his stupidity’Äô.
In the 77th min a loose ball in the area fell to Yorke who controlled it brilliantly and shot low and hard in the corner of the net, this brought a frantic finish to the game in which the Jets gave away possession too easily but Sydney could not find a way through.
In the 82nd min a Yorke free kick at the edge of the area found the wall doing its job and the 85th min saw a Terry Mcflynn shot well wide of the goal from outside the area.
The night ended with the Jets putting everyone behind the ball and a frustrated Sydney side bowing their heads for their first defeat, the final whistle brought wild cheers from the home fans.
What the coaches had to say:
Richard Money: "Very happy with first half, great energy, passion, well worth 2-0 lead". "We gave the people of Newcastle what they deserve". "Milicic and Carle are of the highest quality in this league". Pierre Littbarski: "We slept the first 45 mins very well". "Newcastle played a very good high intensity first half" "We started playing in the second half", "Next week we will see Carney play a lot more (game time)", "We started Middleby because of his Newcastle background".